Page 63 of Seduce

“Yeah. A few months ago a club in San Francisco contacted me about making a few things for their annual exhibition. I did. It was held two weeks ago, and the orders have been pouring in since then.”

“Impressive.” How famous was Damon? “Are all your orders from there?”

“No. I’ve made specialized stuff for clubs in New York, Chicago, Texas, Florida, and DC.” He strode over to the desk. “Most of my stuff goes to Doms. But the clubs are starting to ask for stuff to show. So word has gotten around.”

“By the tone of your voice, I’m not sure if you think it’s a good thing or not.”

“A little of both.” He motioned her out of the chair, then shut down the computer. They walked out, and he locked up the workshop. “I like my work, but I never wanted to be famous or anything.”

“Is that what’s happening?” A twinge of worry tensed Tessa’s shoulders. How famous would he get?

“A little bit. But I’m not stressing about it. No one has to meet me in person. I do everything via email.”

“No internet store?” He could do one so easily.

“Nope. Too much trouble.” He opened the door, and they walked into his home. “Go relax in the family room while I take a shower.”

“What were you planning for dinner?” she asked before he walked down the hall.

“Shrimp, pasta, and a salad.” He disappeared.

Tessa padded to the kitchen and opened the fridge. The least she could do was get stuff started for him. Finding a big pot, she added water and put it on the stove. Then she found a chopping board and a knife and began chopping items for the salad.

Doing this type of repetitive work gave her a few moments to sort out what she was feeling about Damon’s work. Maybe she was making a mountain out of a pile of dirt. He said he did everything via email. He didn’t really meet people, so even knowing his name didn’t mean anything. She wasn’t part of that and wouldn’t be involved, or known, because of it. Yet the coils of fear snaked their way around her heart.

She looked up as Damon came into the room, rubbing his hair dry, shirtless. Her mouth watered, and she pushed her misgivings away.

“You didn’t need to start chopping,” he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek.

He smelled like pine and a fresh spring day. “I figured I might as well help.”

“Thank you.” He stepped out and down the hall. When he came back, the towel was gone. He pulled the shrimp from the fridge.

“How was the job today?” he asked.

“Same old, same old. I’ve been working on the collections this week. Trying to figure out what I can spend and where.” She loved collections, but it was hard. Patrons had been asking for more continuing stories, and most times, there wasn’t the budget for all of it.

“I think my education may be lacking. Sounds like you can’t buy everything you want for the library.”

“That is correct. I have a budget, and it’s not big. My patrons want stuff, but I can’t get it all, so I have to pick and choose.”

“I see.” He put the pasta in the water. “Would more money help?”

Tessa snorted, then laughed. “Yes, but since all the money is funneled through the county, I doubt I’d get that much. But don’t get me wrong. I love my job. I sometimes wish the bureaucrats understood how important libraries are.”

“Enlighten me some more.”

Tessa finished up with the salad, washed her hands, and put the salad back in the fridge to keep cool. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“I do.” Damon leaned against the counter.

“Okay, for example, we only have four computers. So we have to limit the time both kids and adults want to use them.”

“Don’t kids have computers at home?”

“Not all. Not all have internet either.” Another sore point. She’d lobbied her father for years to work on bills that helped those that needed it. Her pleas fell on deaf ears, or at least, that’s what it felt like.

“I didn’t realize.” He stirred the pasta.

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